Fire Spirits (2) - Scorched Skies by Samantha Young
Part 2 of The Fire Spirit-Series: Scorched Skies! (Das Erbe des Flammenmädchens). I read it in English where it contained 334 pages. Originally published 2012.
Her father is dead. Her best friend is finally coming around to admit his feelings for her, but still chose revenge and a future of madness and death over her. And the boy Ari has finally come to love has no interest what so ever in her – Ari is utterly and completely alone, if you don't count her poltergeist, Ms. Maggie. But the Seal draws attention, makes her target Number One… To control her would mean to win the war and enslave all the Seven Kings and their Sultan. To kill her would take a very unreliably variable out of the game… and to transfer her powers… But when Ari begins to dream of her grandmother and everything around her is falling to pieces, she learns three things: One: She's tired of being the hunted and the manipulated. Two: No matter how hard she tries, she can't stop caring. And three: She's going to fight for the boy she loves most.
That was intense. As is everything about the series, by the way.
I'm so so sorry for Jai. That poor boy, his life's been so hard. But I'm glad that he has finally found someone who puts him first. It's cool how Ari fights for him. Even though I must admit, I could have kicked him into the next century after the bathroom scene. I understand his reaction, in a way. But poor poor girl! Seriously. She didn’t need that, nor did she deserve that treatment.
To his family. Could someone please kick them where it hurts?? I hate them all, I seriously do. I get them all, they are realistic – but David is a leech, Luca a coward who lies to himself and neglects the most important duty you can have – the one to your children – and Nicki… well. Evil succubus meets arrogant wannabe-queen. That’s basically her.
But Trey’s cool, I love his relationship to Ari and to the Roes.
As for Ari herself: Her reaction towards everything that's happened is amazingly done. Especially that she tries to freeze her feelings and later on realizes that's impossible and still opens up to others.
But Ms. Maggie is wonderful! I love that poltergeist. It's so funny how she's always protecting Ari's honour – especially with that Roe brother or cousin or whatever. I love that girl.
Well, to the Roes. They are cool in their very own way.
I love their reaction to Ari, and how Ari handles that. It’s wonderful how she flips after everything, it seriously underlines how stressful all of this is – it’s way better than this “I only do what’s noble no matter the situation” some characters pull off.
Fallon is just as cool as Ms. Maggie, only more sarcastic, and she is the best thing for Ari in that situation. I love her! And I love her relationship with Charlie, her training, everything. She’s a good girl and the best sidekick ever.
But the real importance of the Roe's is bringing in another facet of this world: The one of the good half-blooded Jinn and sorcerers, the one of sorcerer goes wrong is shown through Dalí – well done, by the way,
Spoiler:
how he still has a conscience, but can not act, reminds me of Charlie.
So, as you can see, the sides of the sorcerers give forewarnings about Charlie's future and are especially interesting because you begin to understand his and in part Ari's power. And through Anabeth we understand how big the corruption of an emerald can be.
The Seal itself is a very interesting, well, thing. I have my suspicions about it. But enough of that, it's really well done how Ari's challenged more and more. And how she struggles not to take justice in her own hands.
Which brings me to the Kings. They can be cold-blooded murderers, manipulative and each has his own agenda, but they all have a good side. They are absolutely fascinating. You get to know them a lot better in this book, especially Red, Glass and Gleaming. But White has his moments, too. “Pin him.” So. Damn. Well. Done! There’s way more to him than meets the eye, and I love how the way is cleared for certain reactions from the 4th part. Nice!
So. Relationships are gorgeous – not just the one of Ari's, but also Ms. Maggie and Red, Red and Ari, Charlie and Ari and Trey and Fallon as the buffers. (Huh!) Developments (especially forebodings to coming madness) are extremely well done. Characters are convincing and bring humour in a dramatic situation, especially Trey and Fallon (who are absolutely gorgeous). The style is good, especially the timeline-blurr, the story is tense, full of interesting ideas and, well, sense.
In brief:
All in all, this is a five star book: Characters, style, ideas, content and the mixture of developments, relationships, forebodings and hindsights. You get pieces of a big puzzle, all of them different, yet connected. This makes it a challenging and fascinating enigma which wants to be solved – and while the story continues, a few pieces fall into place.
Prequel:
Sequel: